Hundreds trade St. Louis police guns for cash

Saturday, December 13, 2008 | 9:06 p.m. CST
BY The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS — Hundreds of St. Louis residents waited in line to trade police their guns for cash.

On Saturday, citizens were paid $100 for assault weapons and $50 for revolvers and shotguns. Police commissioners recently approved the gun buyback program and allocated $57,500 to purchase the weapons and advertise the event.

People handed in their guns anonymously with no questions asked. The limit is five guns per person.

Officers say they handed out $10,000 in the first two hours.

The guns handed in during the buyback eventually will be melted down and destroyed.

The gun buybacks have been the subject of debate over whether they are worthwhile or effective in reducing crime.

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